I remember writing a post a year ago for women over 50 about flabby arms. I said if you workout with heavier weights and eat good food you won’t get them. I’ve been cursed I have them…… in one year! And yes I weight train what’s going on?

First of all, get rid of the scale don’t even look at it. If you are working out hard (more on that later) and eating clean food then keep doing what you are doing but think about the following ideas below.

Stress

Your body doesn’t know the difference between internal and external stress. The more stress of any kind, that you have the harder it will be to lose weight or change your body shape.

The diagram below shows that there are 6 main types of stressors:

1. Physical
2. Chemical
3. Electro-magnetic
4. Psychic
5. Nutritional
6. Thermal

From Paul Chek's book "Eat Move and Be Healthy".

Paul Chek says, We are exposed to each of these stressors every day and they are all crucial to our physical, mental and emotional health.  The problem begins when we are exposed to too much or the wrong type of stress.  The diagram also shows that we have Control Systems that help to rebalance the body in order to keep our bodies in balance, which is known as homeostasis.

If you exercise too much or too hard that’s stress, if you eat foods that are not good for you (sweets or maybe even carrots) that’s stress.

If your body is under any kind of stress that could be what’s holding you back and keeping you from your weight loss and health goals.

Diet

So let’s talk about diet, “everyone is as different on the inside as they are on the outside so we all have different nutritional needs”.  That’s why your spouse or friend goes on the same diet as you and they lose weight and you gain. Keto and Paleo are the big craze right now and yes people lose weight on them. But if you are not an Eskimo then maybe you shouldn’t eat like one.  Read this post from William Wolcott, the founder of Healthexcel and author of the Metabolic Typing Diet.

What I am saying is “one man’s food is another man’s poison. So eat the foods that your body doesn't need and you will be putting fire on the wood. It could be sugar, carrots, or any food not just "Bad" foods.  Read more about how to fine-tune your diet here https://elitephysiquesinc.com/nutrition-and-lifestyle-coachingutrition-metabolic-typing-and-lifestyle-coaching/

Exercise

Like I said above exercise can be good stress or bad stress. A good exercise program might be a program you worked up to doing. Starting with light weights and increasing the weights safely to a weight that can overload the muscle and increase muscle mass (to help prevent osteoporosis and burn more calories). This needs to be done slowly over time in order to strengthen the tendons and ligament and small stabilizing muscles. If you enjoy cardio do what you love but don't overdo it. If you lose form or don't like what you're doing that is stress.

A bad exercise program causes stress. This might be a weight training program using poor technique or not lifting enough weight to overload the muscle, killing yourself doing a treadmill or running every day. Don't get me wrong I'm not saying you shouldn't run or do cardio just work smart. Next time you go to a park watch the people running. Some have good form, stand tall and use their core, they run with ease others run with their shoulders forward hunched over. The latter do not have the strength or energy to be running. They are just adding stress to their bodies.

You are not going to lose weight by always being in a stress mode. Don't be afraid to lift heavy but be careful, eat for your genetics, your Metabolic Type and do meditation, yoga, Tai Chi, or Qi Gong for stress. Oh ya about my arms, as you get older you need to work out a little more and a little smarter. I increased the weight I use and reduced my stress by meditating and doing Qi Gong. They are starting to tighten up:).

Read "Eat Move, and Be Healthy by, Paul Chek.Best book ever for everyone!

The post This Is How You Lose Weight appeared first on Elite Physiques.

Then there are hikers that are still in the "go" mode. My friends Kim and Jim did another 10 miles while Penny (who goes for the same reason that I do) and I went up on the Knob to relax and enjoy. Nothing wrong with wanting to get as many miles as you can, it's just not what I want anymore. The good thing is everyone was OK with it.

Penny and I met Jacob up on the knob. He was leaning against a tree with his earphones in and reading a book. Here was his email to me:

Jacob's story

This next semester, Fall of 2018, I’ll be a junior studying Mechanical Engineering Technology at Purdue University. This summer, I have an internship in Roanoke, VA that allowed me to get away from all the bad things in my life which was needed to say the least. In February of 2018, I was wrapped up in a bunch of bad lifestyle choices: smoking, drinking, unhealthy eating habits, if it wasn’t healthy, I was probably doing it with the exception of illegal substances. One morning I woke up and felt a bit off but disregarded the feeling and went downstairs to take a shower anyway thinking it was just some weak muscles from the workout the day before. I don’t remember much after stepping in the shower because I had passed out from what I thought was dehydration shortly thereafter. I was taken to the ER, where after extensive blood tests, scans, and X-rays, doctors had found a blood clot in my lower left lung. They began to wonder how a, at first glance, healthy 20-year-old has a blood clot when his family has no history of clotting. I blamed it on my lifestyle choices and the doctors, to protect themselves, couldn’t say whether it was that or not.
I knew something needed to be done to change the way I’ve been living. When I came to Roanoke, I found all this free time outside of work where I was able to take advantage of it. I hike, not just to kill myself and cover so many miles a day, but to find the beauty in life and relax in God’s great creation. Since the last week of school this past semester, I’ve suffered terrible anxiety that came out of nowhere. Is it possible its because I’m constantly thinking about the blood clot that could’ve killed me? Possibly because I’m 10 hours from home in a city where I have no family? I’ll never be for sure. It’s a traumatic experience in my life but through it, I was able to find myself, grow closer to God, and regain my physical and mental health.
Here we are now, four months, four blood-thinning prescription refills, countless hours of hiking, and a healthier lifestyle later. I enjoyed meeting and talking to you on the trail! Enjoy your future hikes!

My note: Jacob, so proud of you for changing your lifestyle! Sometimes it takes something to happen to wake us up. If I can help in any way please let me know.

Michael

We also met Michael he was from Russa but lived in Texas. he was working in Va. and on weekends he would hike. He said his wife was in a lot better shape then he was and they were doing a hiking trip to the Grand Tetons in a couple of months. He was working hard to catch up with her. I think he has a little bit to learn before his big trip. He hiked 3 hours uphill with one small bottle of water and a hiking stick he found on the trail.

On the second day when we hiked back up to the Knob, we met a couple of college students and their new puppy. They put up a hammock and stayed the night on MacAfee Knob with their puppy. They watched the sun go down over the city and come up in the morning. If I make it back that is where I am staying.

Carline

We met Carline when we ask her if she wanted us to take her photo out on the edge. She was a cancer researcher. She was very interesting and we ask lots of questions. She also hiked down with us. She said she enjoys hiking on weekends to relax and get away. She takes her time and enjoys the entire journey. Sorry, I can't believe I didn't get her photo.

Here are some other images from our trip. Enjoy!

Get out in nature

Hiking Can Be Life changing. I hope this post inspires you to get out in nature. To leave all your troubles behind, open up your senses and smell the roses, or whatever. Let me know your story and journey. It can also be in your own backyard or a nearby park. Check out this post about how to have fun while hiking. https://elitephysiquesinc.com/category/hiking-backpacking/

Stay healthy and strong!

The post Hiking Can Be Life Changing For Your Body, Mind, & Soul appeared first on Elite Physiques.

I took this class for a couple of reasons one because I wanted to help my clients, and two because I needed it for myself. I have been all over the place lately trying to find what it is I want to do. Many of you know what I'm talking about.

Here are my lessons:

1. There is a wheel of life, Dr. Quiet, Dr. Happiness, Dr. Diet, and Dr. Movement. If any part of it is overlooked the wheel of life won't roll effectively. This can be where we fall apart when we are not balanced.

   

   Image from Paul Chek

2. Dreams are a snapshot of your future. What do you love enough to change for - to become? Nothing is impossible. What is your dream?

3. Everything has an Archetype. It is the form expressed as a thing or that which is formed, example; all builders express, the builder archetype, cabinet maker. house builder, and carpenter archetype. To understand archetypes better visit Heal your Life Blog with Carline Myss. Here is a quote from the blog, "Archetypes are the keys to our personal power. I have witnessed dramatic changes when people awaken to this power. More than once, I have seen them come to the realization that their need for time alone was not because they are antisocial but because they have the Hermit archetype, which compels them to seek silence and solitude in order to sustain their spirit". What do you need to sustain your spirit?

4. Learn to manage your mind so you can live your dreams and be aware of what you create consciously or unconsciously. Watch this video with Paul Chek, Creating Balance In Your Life.

5. You can release your stressors and blocks in your life by meditating, breathing, drumming, tai chi, yoga, qi gong, painting, drawing, exercising, and journaling. Another video with Paul, Relieving Chronic Pain - The CHEK Totem Pole.

   

6. You can not travel the path until you have become the path itself. Buddha

7.  Addiction and disease can be the tools the soul uses to make us aware of what we need to grow and learn in our lifetime.

8.  A myth is a story we consciously or unconsciously believe and act out. It is a symbolic projection of our hopes fears and aspirations. You can take a quiz here https://www.quotev.com/quiz/999783/What-Myth-are-you. My Myth is a fairy, after reading it I agree. Fairys are a form of nature spirits. I think I have other myths that I act out but they are not what's really in my heart.  I think this is where many of us get stuck and lose are way.

   What do you think of my lessons from my Holistic Lifestyle Coaching class?  What are you willing to do to create balance and healing in your life? What did you think this post on Holistic Lifestyle Coaching was going to be about? I would love to hear your comments.

   Sherry

The post What I Learned From My Holistic Lifestyle Coaching Class appeared first on Elite Physiques.